Iran Replaces Destroyed Radar Installation in Hours, Attempting to Conceal Israeli Strike Damage
Satellite images and expert analysis have revealed that Iran swiftly replaced a destroyed radar installation within hours of an Israeli strike on an air base near the Natanz nuclear complex. The Israeli strike, which targeted a Russian-made radar installation, aimed to demonstrate that Iran’s missile defense systems could be effectively eliminated by long-range attacks.
Despite Iran’s claim that its air base had been attacked by small Israeli drones and that the damage was minimal, the satellite images, first reported by The Economist, indicate that the strike caused substantial damage to the radar installation. In an apparent effort to conceal the impact of the Israeli strike, Iran promptly moved a separate radar battery to the location of the damaged equipment.
Additionally, Iran positioned air defense weapons around the new radar installation to suggest readiness for defense, even though these weapons were likely rendered useless by the Israeli strike. Chris Biggers, a former US intelligence official at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, told The Economist that Iran’s response was a ‘case of denial and deception to suggest the site is still operational.’
He further revealed to The Telegraph that Iran moved its missile batteries away from the site immediately following the strike, likely anticipating another Israeli attack. The Iranian regime, which guards the Natanz complex, appears to have downplayed the severity of the attack to avoid escalating the conflict into a full-scale regional war.
Iran’s foreign minister stated last Friday: ‘If Israel wants to do another adventurism and acts against the interests of Iran, our next response will be immediate and will be at the maximum level.’ World leaders have urged both sides to exercise restraint, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for de-escalation and Iran and Pakistan issuing a joint statement urging the United Nations Security Council to condemn Israel for the attack.
During a recent visit to Pakistan, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi warned that any further Israeli attack could result in the complete destruction of the ‘Zionist regime.’
